Best Sandals Resorts in Jamaica: All You Need to Know

Sandals are a chain of luxury resorts that can be found in Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and the Bahamas. All of these destinations are located in the Caribbean Sea and are popular among Americans and Canadians. They are especially great at organizing weddings, honeymoons, and other important events.

Visitors will be thrilled to hear that Sandals Resorts have premiums all-inclusive packages with gourmet dining, a wide variety of premium wines and spirits, different sports you can enjoy, golf courses, scuba diving and so on.

So, if you’re looking where to spend your next vacation, you might as well go to one of the Caribbean Sandals resorts.

Why Jamaica?

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea and often touted as one of the friendliest places to visit. Still, it is relatively sparsely populated with 2.9 million inhabitants. It is famous for its charming nature and very diverse ecosystem for a country of that size. The government of Jamaica has implemented strict policies helping preserve the ocean and its aquatic lifeforms.

Most people who come to this island are attracted by its amazing beaches with clear water and grainy sand. Nature adds up to the overall feeling; there are forests and mountains surrounding the most popular resorts. If you consider the fact that the average temperature is around 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27° Celsius), it makes it an ideal tourist spot even during the winter.

But there is much more to Jamaica than just its nature. The island’s culture has left a stamp on the global civilization and it would be a real shame not to experience it firsthand. Like with most Caribbean islands, music is always present no matter where you go. Street dancing is a good way to spend your time even during broad daylight. There are lots of Reggae events and shows including Reggae Sumfest and Rebel Salute. You can also enjoy Jamaican cuisine which is primarily based on fish, chicken, various tropical fruits and vegetables.

Contrary to popular belief, Jamaica is actually great for people who want to be active. The mixture of water, woods, and mountains allows you to enjoy various activities. Like all tropical islands, snorkeling and scuba diving are among the most fun things to do when you visit a resort. Also, you can always rent a surfboard and enjoy the waves. One of the things that you likely won’t find anywhere else is swimming with horses. If you prefer mountains and high altitude, you can try bobsledding through the mountains. Visitors who have some extra time can also go hiking and camping in Jamaica’s luscious forest.

Anyway, your visit to the island will definitely be eventful!

Now, let’s review Sandals Resorts.

Top Sandals Resorts in Jamaica

1. Sandals South Coast

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As the name implies, this magnificent resort is situated on the south coast of Jamaica, spreading over 50 acres. It is a great option for people who would like to have some solitude; the resort is quite isolated but more than self-sufficient. Guests can choose between numerous activities that will make their visit the best one possible.

Pros:

Excellent secluded beach. It is especially great for long walks and gives you enough privacy
Lots of pools to choose from. The French pool is especially interesting with its swim up bar. The Italian pool is also worth noting.
A wide variety of food and restaurants
Excellent staff that is always forthcoming regardless of your needs
Unlike some other places, Sandals South Coast has numerous pool and beach lounge chairs so you will never lack one
All of the rooms have an amazing ocean view. They are very clean and the beds are really comfortable. Still, keep in mind that different rooms have different quality of the view and size
Guests simply love the fire pits. There are a lot of places where you can sit in the bayside area
There is a no tipping policy which means you don’t have to think about carrying money around
The Red Lane Spa is one of the best features of the resort. Guests have various options at their disposal when visiting the spa. You can check out the sauna, hot tub, steam room, plunge pool and enjoy some drinks while you’re at it too
The resort also has its own gym and fitness center with brand-new, high-quality equipment
Given that the place is isolated, the resort management has done a good job providing nightly entertainment. There are numerous shows and games you can enjoy
Sandals South Resort garden is a sight to behold
Sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and big tube floats are just some of the activities you can enjoy during the day
Guests can also upgrade to club level or butler service giving them much more benefits and even more pleasurable stay

Cons:

Due to its isolation, there aren’t as many activities as you might expect. It is hard for guests to get acquainted with the Jamaican culture besides the content available at the resort
Guests who don’t like walking too much may find resort to be tedious. Areas are far away from each other and you might require some sort of transportation to look around
Some guests complained about excess seaweed as well as rocky ocean bottom. Nevertheless, the resort staff makes sure that the ocean is cleaned all the time so you can enjoy your stay to its fullest
There might be some issues with Wi-Fi depending on where you’re located. This is especially true if you decide to stray away from the resort
There are better spots to go snorkeling
Given that the resort is encircled by wild nature, bugs are commonplace. Mosquitos can especially be an issue during certain month.
The road to the airport can be quite long. It lasts for about 90 minutes and the roads are rather harsh. Guests who don’t like this can always opt for an Island Hopper. Luckily, a helicopter ride is available to guests so they don’t have to deal with this nuisance

The road to the airport can be quite long. It lasts for about 90 minutes.

2. Sandals Negril

Sandals Negril is regarded as one of the Sandals Resorts not only in Jamaica but in the whole chain. The secret behind this spot lies in its direct access to Negril’s Seven-Mile beach, one of the most popular destinations on the island. Besides the amazing beach, Sandals Negril is close to a popular shopping area. Tourists can also enjoy the area’s vibrant nightlife and other tourist attractions. So, if you love to party, this is definitely the place for you.

Pros:

Like all other Sandals resorts, the staff at Sandals Negril is amazing
Only the highest quality food is served to visitors
Compared to some other places, resort photographers actually improve the overall experience
The beach is the best thing about the resort. You can take long walks at any time and enjoy the scenery
Similar to Sandals South Coast, the grounds are well maintained and inviting
Butler service can improve your experience especially if you’re on your honeymoon
Visitors can enjoy the spa, hot tub, and pools. Couples’ massages are really amazing and there is always something going on at the pools
The gym has excellent equipment. There are also instructors ready to assist you at any time
The rooms are very nice and comfortable; the staff cleans them all the time so you will feel at home. Each one of them has a magnificent view and refrigerators are filled at all times
There are several bars where they serve only top-quality liquor
You can choose among numerous daily activities as well as sports
Guests are especially amazed by the swim up suites
If you don’t want to explore the island, there is always some great nightly entertainment at the resort
Diving is especially amazing
The whole area is really intimate and is great for couples

Cons:

Seaweed can be bit of a problem. Although the staff is constantly working on this, it cannot be completely dealt with
Wi-fi signal is weak at certain spots
Guests are allowed to leave towels on chairs and beach loungers which prevents other guests from using them
There are lots of cats in the surrounding area
The resort is relatively small compared to some other resorts in the chain
There have been reports of the locals selling light drugs in the area
Local craftsmen sell goods on the beaches. Still, there are lots of security patrols making sure you’re not disturbed

3. Sandals Montego Bay

Sandals Montego Bay is regarded as the original Sandals resort. It is set up on the longest private white-sand beach in Jamaica. The hotel is really amazing and is regarded as an architectural masterpiece. The place is especially popular for its nightlife and fun content. If you’re a young couple or if you’re single, this is the best place to be.

Pros:

Nightly entertainment is top-notch and one of the resort’s best features

Staff is very friendly and accommodating

The resort is positioned on one of the more popular Jamaican beaches

It is worth paying for additional amenities

Food is great as well as the selection of drinks

The whole place is very inviting with an incredible surrounding environment

Cons:

Due to the resort’s rather old age, some guests might feel that rooms are a bit dated

Compared to some other resorts, pools are relatively small

Close proximity to the airport can be troublesome for some of the guests

The spot is really fun but this also invites a lot of drug traffickers

The liqueur can become really scarce pretty fast

4. Sandals Royal Plantation

Sandals Royal Plantation is regarded as one of the most exclusive resorts within the chain as well as on the island. It is really elegant and private which is ideal for guests who are looking for some solitude. All rooms have a butler making your stay that much more special and enjoyable. There is a total of 74 suites available to guests.

Pros:

Butlers are very forthcoming and professional. The staff, in general, is great and they make sure your every need is met.

If you’re coming with a partner, you will be assigned two butlers instead of one.

All guests are given a cell phone allowing them to contact a designated butler at any time

The resort has amazing rooms. They are kept clean all the time and the beds are really comfortable. On top of that, they all have a view to the ocean

One of the main characteristics of the spot is its tea time. It is a premium feature that helps visitors relax. Besides tea, you can also enjoy pastries, scones, and sandwiches

Visitors have access to two beaches. The water is amazing and sand is very enjoyable as well.

Unlike some other places in Jamaica, there are no rocks on the ocean bottom so you won’t have to worry about potential injuries.

You will never lack a beach lounger or an umbrella. To make the whole experience even more enjoyable, there are beach butlers ready to serve drinks

Guests have a vast choice of food at their disposal. The resort has three restaurants with very different food menus

There are lots of loungers around the pool so you’ll never be lacking. It also has cool water which will come in handy during really warm days. But, during the winter, the water will be heated which is a rare feature even in premium hotels and resorts

Similar to other Sandals resorts, there are lots of different water sports to choose from. Sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding are among the most popular water activities you can enjoy

If you prefer land sports, you can always go and check two tennis courts available to guests. There is also a nice, well-maintained golf course

There is also an entertainment room with various types of games

Grounds are well-maintained with peacocks strolling around

There is a larger selection of drinks at the two resort bars. Naturally, it’s all-inclusive

The spa is simply amazing and you should definitely try couple’s massage

Nightly entertainment is pretty fun and it encapsulates the spirit of the island. Music is lively, fun and great for dancing

Among other things, visitors of the Royal Plantation also have access to the nearby Sandals Ochi resort. This means they can visit its restaurants at any time and enjoy rest of its content. However, that doesn’t go for the visitors of Ochi resorts so you can rest assured that you will not be bothered

Cons:

There is too much shade and cover on the beaches which can be troublesome during winter months

This is one of the smallest Sandals resorts in Jamaica with a rather small pool and small beaches

It usually takes around 90 minutes to arrive from the airport to the resort

The resort can be really quiet which isn’t ideal for tourists who want a bit livelier atmosphere

Visitors have to walk up and down all the time

5. Sandals Ochi Beach

This resort was recently renovated which means that everything is basically new. From one side, guests can enjoy St. Ann Mountain while on the other side, they have the Caribbean Riviera. It is as close to the ocean as possible.

Pros:

Sandals resorts are known for their excellent staff service and Sandals Ochi Beach is no different

The whole resort is beautifully done and maintained

Guests can choose between several pools, each with a different vibe and level of activity. There are lots of chairs and umbrellas so you’ll never be lacking

Rooms have special decoration. They are very comfortable and refrigerators are restocked daily

Lots of great bars with an excellent choice of drinks

There are numerous restaurants at your disposal each with a different cuisine

You can participate in various activities and do various sports. The choice of water sports is especially great

Although the beach is rather small, it is gorgeous. You can use floats for your cup as you enjoy your time in the water. There are lots of beach chairs available to guests

There are lots of different things to do regardless of whether its night or day. Rabbit Hole, piano bar, lazy swing, life-size chess board, pool, tennis, shuffleboard as well as Chocolate Party are some of the things you need to experience

The spa is a great way to relax yourself

One of the specific things for this resort is that there are movies in the open. To make it even more enjoyable, there are bean bags all over the place while popcorn and nachos are served all the time

The gym is excellent; it is very clean with lots of modern equipment

You can use the hop to go travel around; there are one every 10 minutes

You can use cabanas if you pay some extra

A new section of the resort is called Treehouse and if you wish to try something different and enjoy some privacy, you should definitely visit it

Cons:

Again, like with other resorts on the list, getting from the airport to the resort can be quite arduous. It takes about 2 hours to reach your destination

Golf is charged separately

The resort is quite enormous which can pose issues to certain guests

Due to its small size, you won’t have the option of walking up and down the beach. Don’t expect any privacy as well

Although there is a no tipping policy, staff will work better if you do tip them. Depending on who you ask, butler service can either be great or a complete miss

Sandals Ochi Beach is primarily focused on couples. There are lots of amazing options such as good food, good selection of drinks and comfort at every step. Unfortunately, these aren’t as many entertainment options which might pose a problem for singles

Most activities happen around the ocean section. So, if you located a bit far away, you will have to walk a lot to it. On the flipside, if you’re close to the ocean, you probably won’t be able to get as much rest become of close proximity to events

6. Sandals Royal Caribbean

Another great resort on the list, Sandals Royal Caribbean is close to Montego Bay. There are lots of activities for you to choose from although the island is a bit secluded. In that regard, you won’t be able to roam around too much but you can still find everything you need within the resort.

Pros:

Amazing selection of entertainment and activities. You will never feel bored

Staff is great as it is in all other Sandals resorts

You can always check out the nearby secluded island that will give you some privacy

Cons:

You will probably have to deal with mosquitos

There is a nearby airport and noise can pose a problem to some guests

Pools are not heated during the winter

Numerous activities and entertainment are a common issue for couples and elderly

Rooms are a bit older in terms of architecture

The nearby beach is rather small and can feel crowded

7. Sandals Carlyle

Another resort in the close proximity, Sandals Carlyle is one of the smaller resorts in Montego Bay. It has 52 rooms total. However, it is affordable and guests are allowed to visit other nearby Sandals resorts.

Pros:

As always, the staff at this Sandals resort is amazing

You also have the ability to utilize other nearby resorts in Montego Bay area

Cons:

The resort can be very noisy due to close proximity to streets

The beach is rather small and is often crowded

Less entertainment compared to other resorts in Jamaica

Last consideration

All the pros and cons lists were compiled by guests who previously visited these resorts. In that sense, they are current, relevant and truthful.

Keep in mind that these Sandals resorts are very different; not only are they in different locations but they also vary in terms of the pricing, quality and so on. Still, you can rest assured that you will receive amazing service no matter where you go. Also, even if a resort is a bit older, rooms are generally clean and well-kept.

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